Graham students ready for uniforms

For the second year in a row, Graham Elementary will start the new school year with a major change - uniforms.

Graham’s administration and faculty have identified that its students, a large portion of whom are considered poor or at-risk through the state’s Title I program, need a different educational environment. Uniforms are the next step in that process.

The first step was implementing a year-round schedule for the 2016-17 academic year, which Principal Nelsa Feaster said has provided additional remediation and enrichment to students who need it most.
"I feel a lot of relief because it’s something we’ve been planning and surveying for the last three years," Feaster said. "To see it finally take form and see how good the shirts look, it feels like when you’re on a team and you walk out there unified."
The uniforms will consist of a polo shirt embroidered with the Graham logo, in either gray or orange for students in kindergarten through third grades, and gray, orange or purple for students in fourth grade. S&M Sport Shop in Shelby is selling the shirts for $10 each, and students are asked to visit the store at 707 S. Lafayette St. to get fitted by June 30.
Parents are responsible for purchasing bottoms that are solid khaki or black and can include, pants, shorts, skirts or jumpers. Shoes must comply with the current Cleveland County Schools dress code.
"We had a fitting at the school on Monday, and the parents have loved it.," Feaster said. "I think they’re pleased with the price point. We did our best to ensure it was affordable, so we’re really proud to be able to deliver what we said we would deliver."
Though the school administration feels good about offering an affordable price on shirts, Feaster said she understands that some families may still need financial assistance. For those families, Graham has options.
"We’ve had several donors who are willing to help sponsor students, and that will be on a case-by-case basis because we are not going to have unlimited funding," she said. "We’ll be working with our school social worker to help identify ones who might have needs."

The Least of These, an organization based in Gastonia and Charlotte, has also offered to help pay for uniforms for students in foster care. Additionally, Feaster said Graham will also have a uniform closet equipped with extra shirts, in the event a student needs to borrow one for the day.

School Board President Phillip Glover said the board supports the uniform policy and was impressed with time and effort Graham administrators put into its planning.

"Graham has done a good job talking with parents, the community, students and staff to get their input," he said. "Any time you get that kind of input, and they’re requesting the uniforms, the board will allow that school to do it."

Glover said he expects the uniform policy will have a positive impact on Graham.

"All the students there will be primarily dressed alike. There’s no status that one has anything better than the other," he said. "If they want to be individualized you’ll be able to tell by their personality, and it'll keep them more interested in instruction than what someone else is wearing."

Shelby Middle School, the only other school in the district to require uniforms, implemented their policy about five years ago. Glover said the board hasn't heard from other schools interested in pursuing a similar policy, but the door is always open.

"If that’s a direction parents would like their child's school to go, they should talk to their administration," he said.

Elise Franco can be reached at 704-669-3337 and efranco@shelbystar.com.